Washing apparatus for removing support material from 3d-printed articles

Abstract

A 3D-printed article washing apparatus is provided for removing support material from such articles. The apparatus includes a washing unit and a soaking unit. The soaking unit has a chamber for holding an article to be soaked, a pump for circulating a soaking liquid through the chamber and a heater with a thermostatic control for heating the soaking liquid to a predetermined temperature for circulation through the chamber. The washing unit has a cabinet defining a washing compartment that has at least one liquid-discharging nozzle for spraying an article located therein with a washing liquid. Preferably, the cabinet is also provided with an air blower capable of supplying a jet of heated compressed air.

1 . A 3D-printed article washing apparatus for removing support material from the article comprising a washing unit and a soaking unit, the soaking unit comprising a chamber for holding an article to be soaked, a pump for circulating a soaking liquid through the chamber and a heater with a thermostatic control for heating the soaking liquid to a predetermined temperature for circulation through the chamber; and the washing unit comprising a cabinet defining a washing compartment having at least one liquid-discharging nozzle for spraying an article located therein with a washing liquid. 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet of the washing unit is provided with an air blowing means. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , the air blowing means comprises an air-blowing nozzle that is adapted for connection to a supply of compressed air. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a heating means is provided for heating the air supplied to the air blowing means. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the heating means is provided with a manually adjustable thermostat whereby the output temperature of the air provided by the air blowing means is controlled. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the soaking unit comprises an agitating means to agitate the soaking liquid in the chamber. 
     
     
         7 . A washing machine as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the agitating means comprises one or a plurality of jets of the soaking liquid that are directed into the chamber. 
     
     
         8 . A washing machine as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the agitating means comprises a pipe through which the soaking liquid is pumped into the chamber, the pipe defining a series of spaced holes through which jets of soaking liquid issue from the pipe into the chamber. 
     
     
         9 . A washing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a three-way valve is provided that receives soaking liquid from the pump and directs it either to the agitating means or into a drain. 
     
     
         10 . A washing machine as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the valve is connected to a drain hose and is manually operable to direct the soaking liquid to the agitating means or into the drain hose. 
     
     
         11 . A washing machine as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein a heating means is provided for heating the air supplied to the air blowing means and wherein at least a proportion of the soaking liquid is used within the heating means to heat the air supplied to the air blowing means. 
     
     
         12 . A washing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a perforated, removable basket is located in the chamber to contain the article to be soaked. 
     
     
         13 . A washing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one liquid-discharging nozzle in the washing compartment is connected to a source of washing liquid via a manually adjustable pressure control valve enabling said nozzle to operate with a range of liquid pressures. 
     
     
         14 . A washing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a second liquid-discharging nozzle is provided in the washing compartment and is adapted to produce a pencil jet of washing liquid for cleansing delicate and/or complex areas of the article. 
     
     
         15 . A washing machine as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the second liquid-discharging nozzle is connected to the same source of washing liquid as the first nozzle, a selector switch being provided to enable the source of washing liquid to be switched from one nozzle to the other. 
     
     
         16 . A washing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the washing compartment has a drain provided with a filter arrangement to trap solid material from the washing liquid.